Coaching Staff...is there a missing element?

[Xuperman]

This has been brought up here and there but not in any real detail. Coach Steele and staff have obviously struggled, all too regularly, with in game adjustments. I just don't understand why X did not hire an experienced bench coach with reputable "chops" in that area. I'm talking starting with Steele's first season. Is this not a no brainer for a young 1st time HC AND isn't safe to say that it's the Athletic Director's call?

I find it hard to believe this wasn't discussed after Mack's departure. Once the decision to promote Steele was made, doesn't the focus shift to putting together the absolute best staff for him, considering his inexperience? Is it possible that Travis Steele's ego was as such, that he insisted on choosing his own guys?

Look, it was painfully obvious that Coach Steele game planned to consistently lob over a PERCEIVED height challenged Nova Tuesday night. It resulted in nothing but turnovers (I'm not counting Odom's off target that ended up a 3). Inexplicably they kept going back to the well with terrible results. This accounted for 5/6 TO's.

Any experienced bench guy could have strongly suggested making a quick adjustment, no?

I guess the assumption here is that it had been discussed and for some reason Steele nixed the idea. Thoughts?

[atljar]

My general thought:
Im a fan. Ive never played basketball myself. Ive never coached basketball. I understand the game well enough, but not to any ultra high level.

My frustration is that I can see things like the lob pass issue and how Nova decided to defend it. If I can see that in game issue, then I sure as heck hope our coach can. Because if not, we are in BIG trouble.

With that said, why dont we adjust? That's the more pressing question to me. Stubbornness?

[drudy23]

Steele is very much the "my guy" type of person. This is obviously just speculation, but Steele seems to be the type that will give guys some extra rope to figure it out because of the relationships and history he has with his coaches. I'm guessing alot of first-time head coaches go through this.

Most of these guys aren't afraid to pull the trigger on mixing up their staff after a few years, especially if they struggle. Most tenured high level coaches would never go 3-4 years with mediocre results and not make changes.

Mack fired Gaudio after like 1 or 2 years - you have to be willing to fire your buddy in the lead chair.

Having siad that, recruiting has been pretty good. Michigan has Martelli on the sidelines and I'm guessing it really helps in-game situations. I'm also guessing he doesn't do much recruiting - which is fine. He probably doesn't want to anyway.

[XU 87]

This has been brought up here and there but not in any real detail. Coach Steele and staff have obviously struggled, all too regularly, with in game adjustments. I just don't understand why X did not hire an experienced bench coach with reputable "chops" in that area. I'm talking starting with Steele's first season. Is this not a no brainer for a young 1st time HC AND isn't safe to say that it's the Athletic Director's call?

I find it hard to believe this wasn't discussed after Mack's departure. Once the decision to promote Steele was made, doesn't the focus shift to putting together the absolute best staff for him, considering his inexperience? Is it possible that Travis Steele's ego was as such, that he insisted on choosing his own guys?



Under no circumstances do I want an AD picking the basketball assistant coaches. And by all accounts, the assistants Steele chose were and are top notch. One left a Big Ten school and another left an SEC school to come here.

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

Steele is very much the "my guy" type of person. This is obviously just speculation, but Steele seems to be the type that will give guys some extra rope to figure it out because of the relationships and history he has with his coaches. I'm guessing alot of first-time head coaches go through this.

Most of these guys aren't afraid to pull the trigger on mixing up their staff after a few years, especially if they struggle. Most tenured high level coaches would never go 3-4 years with mediocre results and not make changes.

Mack fired Gaudio after like 1 or 2 years - you have to be willing to fire your buddy in the lead chair.

Having siad that, recruiting has been pretty good. Michigan has Martelli on the sidelines and I'm guessing it really helps in-game situations. I'm also guessing he doesn't do much recruiting - which is fine. He probably doesn't want to anyway.

Michigan has been pretty disappointing this year. I'm not blaming Martelli or really anybody as they have disappointed "expectations" and who knows whether those expectations were reasonable or not. Understand the question you are asking and why you are asking it. But, up until Nova, many of us on this board described Steele's in-game management as improved. As far as needing bench help from the git go, you're correct that posters have been discussing this throughout Steele's tenure. I struggle with the issue as Steele had, what, a twelve-year apprenticeship? He worked under a few different coaches and should have absorbed a helluva lot just by observing. I recall a few times, prior to this season, that "deer in the headlines look" on Steele's face during some losses. I haven't seen that this year but perhaps that's just me.

We are all looking for answers to explain the humiliating drubbing we took from Nova. Maybe our guys just wilted under pressure playing a team that has owned us in their house.

[xuphan]

Under no circumstances do I want an AD picking the basketball assistant coaches. And by all accounts, the assistants Steele chose were and are top notch. One left a Big Ten school and another left an SEC school to come here.

I agree with this. No coach would want a job that has the school hiring his or her assistant coaches. I have no problem with the assistants he has on the team. I do wonder if Steele is too loyal to his game plan and players to make needed adjustments as games play out. I am hoping that we have the talent this year to mask his lack of in game adjustments.

[drudy23]

I guess I'm just saying I would have expected more coach turnover based on the results the past few years. Seems the coach would have had higher expectations of success.

[GoMuskies]

One left a Big Ten school and another left an SEC school to come here.

And one is Dante Jackson. Is he top notch by all accounts?

[drudy23]

And one is Dante Jackson. Is he top notch by all accounts?

That's a good question. Not really sure.

I'm guessing the players love him and I'm guessing he's pretty good with recruits. Is he the lead assistant (aka Associate Head Coach) - or is that someone else?

I guess the answer to that comes down to his ability to land a head coaching job if he were to pursue it. I have no idea what the answer is there.

[XU 87]

And one is Dante Jackson. Is he top notch by all accounts?

Not sure, although he is really, really active during the games talking to the players and giving instructions. I'm not real sure who he was lead recruiter on that has committed. I think maybe CJ Wilcher, but not sure who else (maybe Dahmir Bishop and/or KyKy Tandy?).

[X-band '01]

Steele is very much the "my guy" type of person. This is obviously just speculation, but Steele seems to be the type that will give guys some extra rope to figure it out because of the relationships and history he has with his coaches. I'm guessing alot of first-time head coaches go through this.

Most of these guys aren't afraid to pull the trigger on mixing up their staff after a few years, especially if they struggle. Most tenured high level coaches would never go 3-4 years with mediocre results and not make changes.

Mack fired Gaudio after like 1 or 2 years - you have to be willing to fire your buddy in the lead chair.

Having siad that, recruiting has been pretty good. Michigan has Martelli on the sidelines and I'm guessing it really helps in-game situations. I'm also guessing he doesn't do much recruiting - which is fine. He probably doesn't want to anyway.

You don't think other coaches would give their assistants more leniency when they try to extort them?

[XUBison]

The lob thing was clearly not working. It should not have required an assistant to recognize that.

[xucub]

Outcoached. Outstrateggized. Low basketball IQ (also indicative of coaching.) We are even at the point where we have to question how strong the recruiting is if we remain a .500 Big East team every year. This is the Steele legacy. This is the Christopher legacy.

[Xuperman]

Under no circumstances do I want an AD picking the basketball assistant coaches. And by all accounts, the assistants Steele chose were and are top notch.

No doubt, although Christopher is technically his boss, the AD has far more on his plate than MBB....let alone picking assistant coaches. I do however, think that it is entirely within the scope of his job to discuss what type of assistant coaches are hired during the process of a HC hire.

"We're going to put you in the big chair Travis, but I want you to find a really experienced bench guy of your choice to be your co-pilot"

What could possibly be the down side? Steele's staff has been young and fairly inexperienced from the jump. Isn't the the associate HC Jonas Hayes?

[paulxu]

Hayes is the Associate Head Coach.
And don't forget Steele's assistant Johnson who went straight to Minnesota as a head coach, and seems to be doing well.

[xeus]

Per source, MOR applied for the “wise old man on the bench” coaching role but apparently didn’t land the gig. He’d have been perfect.

[GoMuskies]

Outcoached. Outstrateggized. Low basketball IQ (also indicative of coaching.) We are even at the point where we have to question how strong the recruiting is if we remain a .500 Big East team every year. This is the Steele legacy. This is the Christopher legacy.

I think we should let this season play out before deciding this is true.

[xavierj]

I guess I'm just saying I would have expected more coach turnover based on the results the past few years. Seems the coach would have had higher expectations of success.

They did. Guy took a head coaching job at Minnesota and is 10-1 so far. Another guy left for Indiana State. Xavier is 11-2 and improved save for the last half. I feel Travis has done well this year in game coaching, which turned into wins instead of losses. Nova was not so good second half though.

[xudash]

It is a good thing that this board, or much of it, was not around or old enough to have been put in a position of being responsible for reacting to the Cuban Missile Crisis.

[hoopster68]

What is the XU fan base waiting for? We've had three + years of the "deer in the headlights" approach. Most of the the time Coach Steele is out-coached in game situations. I'm not a coach, or a past player, but what I see game after game, season after season tells me something is wrong. As the politicians say, 'the fish stinks from the head."

[xu82]

I think we should let this season play out before deciding this is true.

I agree with this…..

[xu82]

It is a good thing that this board, or much of it, was not around or old enough to have been put in a position of being responsible for reacting to the Cuban Missile Crisis.

….and I agree and laugh at this!

[Drew]

This has been brought up here and there but not in any real detail. Coach Steele and staff have obviously struggled, all too regularly, with in game adjustments. I just don't understand why X did not hire an experienced bench coach with reputable "chops" in that area. I'm talking starting with Steele's first season. Is this not a no brainer for a young 1st time HC AND isn't safe to say that it's the Athletic Director's call?

I find it hard to believe this wasn't discussed after Mack's departure. Once the decision to promote Steele was made, doesn't the focus shift to putting together the absolute best staff for him, considering his inexperience? Is it possible that Travis Steele's ego was as such, that he insisted on choosing his own guys?

Look, it was painfully obvious that Coach Steele game planned to consistently lob over a PERCEIVED height challenged Nova Tuesday night. It resulted in nothing but turnovers (I'm not counting Odom's off target that ended up a 3). Inexplicably they kept going back to the well with terrible results. This accounted for 5/6 TO's.

Any experienced bench guy could have strongly suggested making a quick adjustment, no?

I guess the assumption here is that it had been discussed and for some reason Steele nixed the idea. Thoughts?

Xavier does not have infinite funds, they chose to hire great recruiting assistant coaches.

[XUBison]

It is a good thing that this board, or much of it, was not around or old enough to have been put in a position of being responsible for reacting to the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Sorry Dash, but this is my nominee for dorkiest post of the year. I actually think most of the reaction here to the Nova loss has been pretty level. I mean, none of us are ducking for cover under our school desks to protect from the Pavilion fallout. Look, there’s no shame in losing at Nova, we all know that. But the way we played that 2nd half was pathetically predictable and disappointing. Of course the fan board is going to ruminate on that.

[UCGRAD4X]

One of the worst things about a loss like this is that we have a whole week to ruminate, the results of which are not entirely unpredictable.

Chatter, chatter.

[X-band '01]

It's a holiday tradition now to lose before Christmas Break. Nothing to see here.

[nuts4xu]

Look, it was painfully obvious that Coach Steele game planned to consistently lob over a PERCEIVED height challenged Nova Tuesday night. It resulted in nothing but turnovers (I'm not counting Odom's off target that ended up a 3). Inexplicably they kept going back to the well with terrible results. This accounted for 5/6 TO's.

Any experienced bench guy could have strongly suggested making a quick adjustment, no?

Thoughts?

In real time, I thought the same thing. A guy on the other board broke down the tape…Xavier used the lob pass to the post 6 times. It was a great read, and saved me from watching tape myself. 2 were turnovers, 1 was tipped to Odom who eventually scored, 1 was over thrown by Odom right into the basket for a 3 pointer, and the other 2 plays worked and resulted in made baskets. These 6 possessions resulted in 10 points and 2 turnovers.

Since Martelli was hired at Michigan, I have heard calls for X to hire an experienced bench coach. X coaches have never done that in the past and most of our coaches came with zero head coaching experience. Steele has been learning on the job for four years and i really haven’t had an issue with our assistant coaches. It is incumbent upon Steele to learn and improve as he gains experience. I’m not sure he has improved a whole lot in his 3+ years, but he has the rest of this season to show what he’s made of. Point I am making is I am Not convinced an experienced bench coach is the answer to our coaching woes. Travis needs to be better regardless who his assistants are.

[Xville]

In real time, I thought the same thing. A guy on the other board broke down the tape…Xavier used the lob pass to the post 6 times. It was a great read, and saved me from watching tape myself. 2 were turnovers, 1 was tipped to Odom who eventually scored, 1 was over thrown by Odom right into the basket for a 3 pointer, and the other 2 plays worked and resulted in made baskets. These 6 possessions resulted in 10 points and 2 turnovers.

Since Martelli was hired at Michigan, I have heard calls for X to hire an experienced bench coach. X coaches have never done that in the past and most of our coaches came with zero head coaching experience. Steele has been learning on the job for four years and i really haven’t had an issue with our assistant coaches. It is incumbent upon Steele to learn and improve as he gains experience. I’m not sure he has improved a whole lot in his 3+ years, but he has the rest of this season to show what he’s made of. Point I am making is I am Not convinced an experienced bench coach is the answer to our coaching woes. Travis needs to be better regardless who his assistants are.

The first paragraph I believe you are referencing the first half. The second half was the issue when nova adjusted and x did not.

[UCGRAD4X]

In real time, I thought the same thing. A guy on the other board broke down the tape…Xavier used the lob pass to the post 6 times. It was a great read, and saved me from watching tape myself. 2 were turnovers, 1 was tipped to Odom who eventually scored, 1 was over thrown by Odom right into the basket for a 3 pointer, and the other 2 plays worked and resulted in made baskets. These 6 possessions resulted in 10 points and 2 turnovers.

Since Martelli was hired at Michigan, I have heard calls for X to hire an experienced bench coach. X coaches have never done that in the past and most of our coaches came with zero head coaching experience. Steele has been learning on the job for four years and i really haven’t had an issue with our assistant coaches. It is incumbent upon Steele to learn and improve as he gains experience. I’m not sure he has improved a whole lot in his 3+ years, but he has the rest of this season to show what he’s made of. Point I am making is I am Not convinced an experienced bench coach is the answer to our coaching woes. Travis needs to be better regardless who his assistants are.

Other board? Get Out!

[xdude]

I think we should let this season play out before deciding this is true.

Steele looks way more comfortable and less easy to pick on for his in game decisions. Can we allow that sometimes weird shit happens? The most striking thing about that Nova games was not the failed ally oops. It was that neither team could make a three at that end. Okay, Nova made one. 1 - 30. There are some situations that require attention but some that are just 'shit happens'.

[GIMMFD]

Steele looks way more comfortable and less easy to pick on for his in game decisions. Can we allow that sometimes weird shit happens? The most striking thing about that Nova games was not the failed ally oops. It was that neither team could make a three at that end. Okay, Nova made one. 1 - 30. There are some situations that require attention but some that are just 'shit happens'.

Reasonable take and I agree with this, I felt like he has made good adjustments so far in the year, and the Nova game, we just didn't, which was also just a weird game in general. I'm also with GoMuskies in saying I want to see how a few more games play out before calling for Steele's head, we're still doing okay, and even though last year we had a great record starting the year and faltered down the stretch, I want to see what happens. Hopefully this week off just pisses our guys off to no extent and we clean the floor with UCONN.

[xavierj]

What is the XU fan base waiting for? We've had three + years of the "deer in the headlights" approach. Most of the the time Coach Steele is out-coached in game situations. I'm not a coach, or a past player, but what I see game after game, season after season tells me something is wrong. As the politicians say, 'the fish stinks from the head."

Just curious but was it deer in the headlights when the coaching pulled out the Ohio State, Virginia Tech and Marquette games? The team is 11-2 with two losses to top 20 teams. I think Travis has done a good job this year. Now need to show continued improvement the rest of the year and win games in March.

[94GRAD]

Reasonable take and I agree with this, I felt like he has made good adjustments so far in the year, and the Nova game, we just didn't, which was also just a weird game in general. I'm also with GoMuskies in saying I want to see how a few more games play out before calling for Steele's head, we're still doing okay, and even though last year we had a great record starting the year and faltered down the stretch, I want to see what happens. Hopefully this week off just pisses our guys off to no extent and we clean the floor with UCONN.

How does everyone overlook that X had 2 Covid stoppages and Scruggs and Johnson were out at the end of the season?

[UCGRAD4X]

Just curious but was it deer in the headlights when the coaching pulled out the Ohio State, Virginia Tech and Marquette games? The team is 11-2 with two losses to top 20 teams. I think Travis has done a good job this year. Now need to show continued improvement the rest of the year and win games in March.

Like many of us, I think he is referring to the rule rather than the exception. To your last comments: what evidence do you have at this point that this is likely to happen?

I am generally an optimist and, of course, hope the games you mentioned become the rule rather than the exception. At the same time I have NO problem with anyone who is skeptical if not pessimistic.

[Final4]

We're 11 - 2 with a loss to a top 10 team on a neutral floor when half our team had the flu and a loss at Nova where no one EVER wins. I'm finding it a bit hard to find things to complain about.

[xukeith]

Obviously this year's team is the best of class over the past 4 years.
Steele has made many improvements this year and he is a lot better.

X is not finishing undefeated. Sorry, it happens.
X will finish in top 4 of BE this year.

[xudash]

Sorry Dash, but this is my nominee for dorkiest post of the year. I actually think most of the reaction here to the Nova loss has been pretty level. I mean, none of us are ducking for cover under our school desks to protect from the Pavilion fallout. Look, there’s no shame in losing at Nova, we all know that. But the way we played that 2nd half was pathetically predictable and disappointing. Of course the fan board is going to ruminate on that.

Bison - it was a mostly “tongue in cheek” response. To the extent it borrowed from the Cuban Missile Crisis, it was about the movie THIRTEEN DAYS (i.e. “cooler heads prevail”), not about the dramatic notion of getting under a desk.

BTW, I totally agree with:

1. “How does everyone overlook that X had 2 Covid stoppages and Scruggs and Johnson were out at the end of the season?”; and

2. The fan base having a right to be jittery - strong start, but will we hold up in BE play. It’s a proud, accomplished program. We want to stay there.

I can’t explain the second half. Who reasonably can?

Patience. Tuesday will be very revealing.

In the meantime, we’re 11-2 and RANKED.

Merry Christmas!

[GIMMFD]

How does everyone overlook that X had 2 Covid stoppages and Scruggs and Johnson were out at the end of the season?

Also a good point, definitely did forget to mention that. Especially as we've seen how important Nate has been so far this season.

[Masterofreality]

How does everyone overlook that X had 2 Covid stoppages and Scruggs and Johnson were out at the end of the season?

By looking at Xavier blowing a 19 point lead that they built without Johnson (Paul Scruggs played in that game) vs a lousy Butler team at MSG last March and Steele being out coached horribly in the second half. Butler went on to get blown out by Thirty One points the next night.
That’s how.

[boozehound]

By looking at Xavier blowing a 19 point lead that they built without Johnson (Paul Scruggs played in that game) vs a lousy Butler team at MSG last March and Steele being out coached horribly in the second half. Butler went on to get blown out by Thirty One points the next night.
That’s how.

I will agree that the ‘blowing huge leads’ thing is a cause for concern. Not sure if it’s the team, the coaches, or both. I tend to think that this team should have enough depth that a solid lineup can be formed even when some players are struggling. We’ll see what happens down the stretch I suppose.

[nuts4xu]

The first paragraph I believe you are referencing the first half. The second half was the issue when nova adjusted and x did not.

Nope, Xavier used that lob pass 6 times for the entire game...including the first half AND the second half.

[xavierj]

Nope, Xavier used that lob pass 6 times for the entire game...including the first half AND the second half.

This is true. The adjustments Nova made in the 2nd half were Xavier going 0-13 from three and Colby and Paul were bad. Can’t win on the road when your two best players play poorly. The refs also let Nova get really physical, which also impacted the 2nd half.

[Xville]

Nope, Xavier used that lob pass 6 times for the entire game...including the first half AND the second half.

interesting....ill take your word for it, but it sure seemed like a heck of a lot more in the 2nd half.

The first two minutes in the second half really set the tone for what was going to happen....4 turnovers..so instead of coming out of the half with poise and determination and extending the lead, X doesn't value the basketball...i don't think they even got a shot off until 3-4 minutes in.

[X-band '01]

By looking at Xavier blowing a 19 point lead that they built without Johnson (Paul Scruggs played in that game) vs a lousy Butler team at MSG last March and Steele being out coached horribly in the second half. Butler went on to get blown out by Thirty One points the next night.
That’s how.

He must have been thinking of 2019-20 when Scruggs was injured for the stretch run. Games at Providence, at home against Butler and DePaul at MSG were all a disaster.

But that was then.

[XUBison]

Bison - it was a mostly “tongue in cheek” response. To the extent it borrowed from the Cuban Missile Crisis, it was about the movie THIRTEEN DAYS (i.e. “cooler heads prevail”), not about the dramatic notion of getting under a desk…

yes, I realize your comment was tongue-in-cheek, as was mine. As schoolchildren, my now 75 year old parents literally climbed under their desks during “routine” nuke drills, all part of a national protocol designed by people like those supposed “cooler heads“. Crazy times, indeed. That said, I’m not going to bemoan the fact most on this board are not octogenarians or older.

Merry Christmas, and happy New Year!